Page 139 of Cartel King

“I love it. It’s stunning.”

My sisters helped me pick it last week.

“Did I ruin things by asking in the middle of sex?”

I grin and steal a kiss.

“I knew you didn’t ask because you were carried away. It’s one of the most intimate things we share with just each other. I think that was a perfect time to ask.”

“Are you bothered I asked you rather than the other way around?”

“I just asked you, and you said yes.”

“You know what I mean.”

“No. It might be traditional for the man to ask, and as old-fashioned as things are for our family, I see no reason a woman shouldn’t ask if that’s what she wants.”

I lower her to the bed and lift off her shirt before unfastening her bra. I pull down the covers for her, and she slips beneath them. I strip off my clothes as she watches, her eyes feasting on me. My dick twitches back to life. When I get in beside her, she wraps her hand around my length and slowly strokes.

“When do you want to get married, Ellie?”

“Soon. Will it be the way it is in Boston? The ceremony is private, but the reception is for everyone and their mother?”

“Pretty much. The ceremony will be our family and my most senior men. Then the reception will be the who’s who, including the other families. My brother will be my best man. Can you come up with eight bridesmaids?

“Eight?! I don’t have eight female friends.”

“My five nephews and your three sons.”

“My boys? You’d ask them to stand up with you?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

She swallows and smiles.

“Ellie, I’m never going to parent them or try to replace their father. I hope the four of us can be friends. But they’re my family now and have been since the first time I kissed you. Just like everything else has been a foregone conclusion, so is them being part of my immediate family.”

“Thank you,mio caro.” My darling.

“You must have eight female friends or even four.”

She averts her gaze, her hand no longer stroking me.

“Ellie?”

“The only two women I’m close to are Tori and Stella.”

Shit.

Me persecuting Tommaso puts Ellie in an even shittier position than I considered. The don’s wife and sister won’t even come to the wedding, let alone stand next to Ellie, if I keep going after them. Even if it’s through Salvatore, it’ll put a rift between them they may never overcome.

I have only seconds to work through this as she speaks. I can put the past where it belongs for Ellie’s sake since my grudge against Tommaso really is about how he treated her. He knows I don’t like him, so that should be enough to keep him on his toes. Salvatore’s been a pain in my ass for decades, and the old goat will remain that way since he and I are both in great health. We’ve survived into our late fifties for a reason—to piss each other off to no end.

“What about Kathleen?”

Ellie’s chin draws back as her brow creases and lips turn down.

“I don’t know. The O’Rourkes didn’t disown her, but she’s no longer one of them. It doesn’t mean it’ll thrill them to see her sitting with Frank and the others at the reception. I assume if I invite Kathleen, then Frank will come. If I invite Tori, then Santino will be there. And if I invite Stella, that means Tommaso too. There’s not a chance in hell those three men would send their wives down here and not be there to guard them the entire time. It means the Boston don,consigliere,and former underboss who was thecapo dei capibefore that would be at our wedding. That’ll piss off everyone in your organization.”

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